be the light ...

“Light is to darkness what love is to fear; 

in the presence of one, the other disappears.

Marianne Williamson

I have posted this collage on my P.O.P. site (society6and Redbubble) and I will donate the entirety of my portion of the sale of this print, 'be the light ... ' to UNICEF to help the children in the Ukraine.

print on society 6:

https://society6.com/product/be-the-light6628744_print?sku=s6-23296111p4a1v45

Print on redbubble: 

https://www.redbubble.com/i/art-print/be-the-light-by-Virginiacreate/103391524.1G4ZT?asc=u

Click here to go directly to UNICEF's site to donate directly:

www.unicefusa.org

When I sat down yesterday to create this month's collage for my #virginiacreates monthly calendar - this collage came quite clearly to me.  I didn't struggle with it or question it, which usually happens with most of my work.  But this piece seemed to flow. 

 I was listening to an interview with the lovely and talented Anne Lamott (see link below) and she was speaking about the importance of being the light - especially for creatives - and so I named this collage, 'be the light ...'  However as I was putting together my March calendar page I started seeing that this piece speaks to the heart-breaking situation in the Ukraine.  

As I do with many of my collages I cut shapes from  pages of different foreign text.  I am always picking up foreign books when I see them!! Unknowingly I used pages from one of my book that is in a Slavic language.  This particular book seems to be about Walt Disney and is in some East Slavic language though I am not sure which language. I love to use text in my work and especially text using different alphabets.  I find lettering/text/language so inspiring and beautiful of many levels.  

Also when I first sat down to make this collage I felt the need to stamp a peace sign, something that I don't always do, but yesterday it felt important.

I mention all this because I really wasn't consciously thinking about the Ukraine crisis, but as I look at the finished collage I feel like it speaks to the crisis, peace & light with a slavic text sprinkled around.  And this is an idea that Anne Lamott talks about, that we, as creatives, need to be open so that we are receptors of the world and that it what feeds our work.

A Conversation with Anne Lamott - 2007:

Best-selling author Anne Lamott returns to San Diego with more hilarious tales of her life as a mother, daughter and writer who is drawn to the struggles of imperfect characters. The humor of host Dean Nelson puts the normally reclusive Lamott at ease and the two keep the audience laughing throughout this edition of the 2007 Writer’s Symposium by the Sea, sponsored by Point Loma Nazarene University. [4/2007] [Show ID: 12220]

https://youtu.be/PhP5GmybvPM

'something's fishy' in Attleboro . . . .

It is about that time again, the Attleboro Arts Museum's annual benefit auction and I am so happy to support this gem of an institution.   

For this years auction I have sent another collage from my 'home sweet home' series* , since last year's collage was so well received.  (I believe there was a bidding war :) 

This year I donated "something's fishy", another personal favorite.

something's fishy 5x7”matted collage 

Make sure you check out the museum's online auction, as there are always many lovely pieces available. Here is a description of these collage series ~

*In her 'home sweet home' series,  Fitzgerald is challenging the ‘picture perfect’ life portrayed by magazines, catalogs and the media.  She takes the photograph of one of these Utopian settings and adds some surrealistic details then adds the empty, hanging dress symbolizing the emptiness of the pursuit of this idealistic life.   

Benefit Art Auction

The Attleboro Arts Museum’s Benefit Art Auction is a Museum tradition – supported by hundreds of artists, donors, area businesses and art lovers alike.  It is the Museum’s most important fundraiser and vital to the continued growth of our organization and arts programming in our region.

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Spotlight Exhibition Opening Reception and Sponsor Recognition (preview all Auction items before the live/silent event): Friday, October 11^th, 6-7:30pm.  Free and open to all.

Auction: Saturday, November 2^nd.  Doors open at 5:30pm.  Attleboro Arts Museum, 86 Park Street, Attleboro, MA 02703

Tickets are on sale now.  $35 in advance, $40 at the door (includes hors d’oeuvers, wine and beer).  Space is limited – call 508-222-2644  x13 or email office@attleboroartsmuseum.org

Auctioneer: Chris Barber, Skinner, Inc.

Online Auction Bidding: October 11th–31st
Our 2013 online auction site will launch on October 11th.  Start bidding in advance of the live auction!

www.biddingforgood.com/attleboroartsmuseum2013